Slicing machine



Aug. 29, 1933. J. c. VAN BERKEL 1 1,924,657

SLICING MACHINE Filed Dec. 1%, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY g- 1933. J. c. VAN BERKEL SLICING MACHINE Filed Dec.

(DINVENTOR.

ATTORNEY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 29, 1 933 ITE TATES SLICINGMACHINE Johannes Cornelis van Berke], Copenhagen Denmark, =assignor to Naamlooze Vennootschap e Maatschappij. tot -Veraardiging van Snij-' 1 machines volgens Van andere Wfl'ktuigen, Rotterdam, limited liability company Berkels Patent en van I Netherlands, a. of the Netherlands 1928, Serial No. 325,456,

and in Great Britain January 9, 1928 H i 21 Claims; (01. 146-,217)

This invention relates to" machines for slicing meat andother substances and of thekind in which'the substance to be sliced is clamped upon a support capable of being fed towards a slicing a which can be forced down into effective gripping engagement with the upper surface of the substance. It is foundin practice" that the clamps in use at the present day are incapable of holdingthe substance suflicientlyrigid during slicing.

especially where large pieces ofsubstance are being sliced, the reversals of movement of the,

carriage and the pressure of the knife on "the front end of the substance causing distortion thereof, the rear'end being prone to shift across. the support. It will be apparent that, should such distortion take place from time to time,

the' sliceswould notbeof uniform thickness,

this being undesirable and, therefore, being regarded as. a disadvantage. Y

The 'object of the present invention is to ob.- viatejthis disadvantage, and-to this end,,in ac- -cordance withjthe invention, there is combined with the substance supportin' a" machine'of the kind referred to a clamp disposed at or near the frontof the support for clamping'the substance'the'reon andmeans for engaging and supsporting one side, or bothsides, of, the substance 35 at a partithereoi behind the clamp. in order to prevent distortion, of the, substance during,v sueing, which means can be freely adjusted towards the substance andheld again'stthe sidelof the;

substance. t

Anotherobjectis to provide an automatic lock,- ing mean's forgpreyentingl return movement of thesupporting means for the side of thefsulb stance. 1

I 'Furtherobjects will appear as the description proceeds. H In order that the invention may be clearly understood, it will now be described with reference I to the accompanying drawings, in which several j embodiments'thereof, chosen-by 'way of example v a projection 14, serving to limit-the counteri clockwise movement of the, extension 6, the ar-. rangement being such that-the bar -7 cannot move;;beyond the edge 1"? of the tray and so cannotfoul the knife K of the slicing machine. 110

have been illustrated 1 In the drawings Figs..l and 2 are elevations of one-kind ofsub-j stance "support, ;to Y which one form of the: 'in vention is shown applied,'and Fig. 3 is a plan view ofiEig. l,j certain parts, in Fig. .3' being broken Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of a substance 1 support having a diiferentembodiment of the invention applied thereto; 4 ,Figs. 5, 6 and 7, respe ctive1y,.are sections taken on the lines 5-5, 66 and 7- 7 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary 'plan viewof Fig. f1;

Fig. 9 is a detail section of part of FigQBj and in Fig. 3. e r I ,Referring to Figs. 1. to 3, the substancesup port therein shown compriseswhat is commonly.

V vFig. 10 is an enlarged viewjof the parts'shown known as a' .display tray, indicated .by, the

numeral 1, andisflprovided with a substance clamp 2 and an inclined, upright guide3, 1onwhich the clamp 2 is slidably, but not turnably,

mounted. The tray lhas an upstanding flange 1 extending along'lon e side thereof and servingas anabutment .for the substance. The armg2 is fitted with a frictionpawl 4 having aneccentric face 4' which bears'against the guide 3, the pawl being urged normally by a spring 5 toiwedge the. face 4 a hard against the guide 3 and :so lock the arm inthepositionloccupied by it for the time being. An extension 6 is pivotally mounted at jthe free end .of the arm 2 andaflbarf'l is in 1 extension 6. 1 Two substance engaging members in thel fprm of posts 3 depend from the ends of the bag 'l. The pivotal connection between the arm.,2 and theextension 6 consists ofa pin 9 penetrating turn pivotally mounted, at the. free endlof the holesin both parts. In addition, a ratchetwheelj 10 is securedto the extension-6,fa spring-urged pawl 11 co-oper'ating with the ratchetwheelis mounted on the arm"2, and a volute spring: 12 590,

fitted aroundthe. pin 9 normally urges the exfi 5 Q cc py a position in whichone' or V other-of the. ratchet teeth-bearshard against the 6 may be swung clockwise, (as viewed in Fig. 3)"

pawl 11. .With thisarrangern'ent the extension.

againstthe torque of the spring 12into any de sired position, the extension being held against retrograde movement by the pawl-and-fratchet device. The pawl ll, however, can be withdrawn at will from engagementwith the ratchet teeth,

by pressing affinger-pieee1l"projecting from the pawl.

As shown, the ratchet teeth do not extend tirelyaround thewheel 10, but are interrupted-"by It will benoted from the enlarged view of the pawland' ratchetmechanism shown in Fig. 10,

j that the projection 14 is higher than the ratchet V teeth. In other words, it would be necessary to raise the pawl 11 higher to clear the projection l4than is necessary to'have the pawlclear the ratchet teeth. Therefore, the finger" piece 11' is spaced from the casing which encloses the ratchet a distance sufficient to permit the pawl to be moved out of the path of the ratchet teeth when the finger piece is moved into engagement with the said casing, butnot enough .to'permit from the machine and placedin a'position (e.-g.

and the-flange.

the pawl to be raised sufficiently to clear theprojection 14. In other Words-when the finger piece 11 is moved against the casing to release the arm 6, the arm will be moved by the action of the spring 12 into the-position shown in either Figs.

3 or 10, but will be prevented from moving any farther by means, of the projection 14, thus preventingthe clamping member from moving past the plane of the knife. Thus, a very effective means is provided for releasing the clamping means and'for'preventing said clamping means from fouling the knife.

When the substance support is in use, the subi stance to be sliced is placed on the tray 1 against the flange 1, the arm 2' being disposed above the level ofjthe top substance. The extension 6 is then swung clockwise into a position in which the substance is gripped between the posts 8 and the flange 1'.

Thereafter, the friction pawl 4 is released and the, arm 2 is pressed down on top of the substance. On account of the inclination of the guide 3, theposts 8 will move nearer to the flange 1', withthe result that the substance will I be gripped much more firmly between the posts The display tray is adapte d'to be fitted in place one slicing machine in known manner, and, when so-fltte'd and whenthe machine is operated the tray will be fed by well-known means either automatically or by hand towards the "slicing knife K of the machine, the'subs'tance being at the same time moved recurrentlypast the knife whereby -slic'es'are cut in succession. When'the operation of slicing is finished, the'tray may be removed in a shop-window) "in which the substance is to be'displayed;

Referring now to Figs. 4 to 10, thes'ubstance gripping posts therein shown are substantially similar in function'to those shown in Figs. 1130 3, but are adapted to be operated difierently'; The' posts, which are indicated by thenumerals '71, depend'from the ends of abar'72 pivoted midway 'of'its length to the free end of an arm '73.v A

bracket 74 suports the arm 73, which isfsecured to an upright pivot pin '75" journalled in the bracket 74. The bracket 74 is fitted to the feedtable 76 atthe rear lendthereof, the bracket havingja projection '77 bearing against one side of the feed-table and being secur'edbya screw 78 to a plug '79 screwed into the rear end ofjthe feedtable, the bracket being centred on said plug. A

- pinion'BO, secured to the pin 75, meshes with rack teeth 81" at one end-of'a round bar 82 slidably mounted in bearing brackets 83,- '84 on' the feed-' table. The pinion '80 is enclosed in a casing .7 4- p on the bracket '74. a

It; 111 be obvious thaebysndmg theflbar 82.

endwise through its bearing brackets'jthe pinion will be turned and the pin 75'and arm'7 3 will turnin unison therewith.

Such endwise sliding'movement's cangb'e imparted to the bar 82 by means of a,knobj8 5 secured to the end thereof opposite to therack teeth 81. By pulling the knob 85, the posts '71 can be swung (in the counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 17) hard against the side of the substance to be sliced. It should be noted that the bar 72 is free toturn about its pivot so that it can adopt a position in which both posts bear against one side of the substance. The other side of, the substance may be placed against a step 76 on the feed-table. If desired, the step '76 may beextended to present an uprising flange similar to that shownin Fig.1.

In order to maintain the posts 71 in firm engagement with the substance, a braking deviceis provided to prevent retrograde. movement of the bar 82. This device is fitted to the bearing bracket 84 and consists of a roller 86 which is may be rendered inoperative by raising a bell crank-lever 91, the toe of which, is capable of dis-Q placing the roller, along the face 89 clear of the face 88. l I

The collar 90 and a plate 92 on the bracket 84 serve as'limiting stops defining the ends of the range of the endwise' movement which may be im 'part'ed'to the bar 82.

It is to be understood that a clamp (such rdri'i example as that shown in Fig. 1)' would bepro-..

vided on'each of. the substance supports in Figs. 413010. R I

Obviously those skilled in the art may make various changes in the details and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and. scope of the'inven'tion as defined by the appended.

claims and'I therefore, do not wish tobe restricted to the precise construction herein closed.

I claim: I '1. In a slicing machine having a substance support, a clamp at the forward end of said support, an arm pivoted at one side of and adjacent the rear of said support about an upright axis to swing over saidsupport, a member depending from said arm to engage the "side of the substance sliced, mechanism 'forlrotating 'said mote from said arm, andlatch mechanism for holding said sition.

2. In a slicing machinehaving afsubstahc.

support, a] clamp at the forward ,end of said support, an' arm pivoted at oneside of .and'adjacent the rear end of said support, 'a member.

depending from said arm to engage the side of the substance sliced, a slidable rod extending" across said support to the 'side' opposite said arm. gearing associated with said arm andv rod to ro 1 arm, actuating means for said mechanism reactuating means in adjusted ..po-

tate said arm by'v sliding said rod, a latch 'nor mally preventing movement of said rod toward pivoted, and means forreleasing'said latch. f 3. A substance clamp for slicing machines commounted on said clamping arm andfbeing ad-'.

justable into ,a pluralitytof positions .to one side" of said clamping arm to engage the side of said.

substance against lateral movement.

4. A substance clamp for slicing machinescomprising a clamping bar, an arm movably supthe side of the table upon which said arm is prising a clamping armfor clamping a substance 1 against vertical moveme'ntand an arm pivotally ported' on said: bar, jandysubstance engaging. means on; said armpsaid: clamping bar, and arm: being adjustable into and out ofqengagementa with.;the'isubstanee,to,be clamped; said arm, be-

5 adjustable towards saidsubstanceain a direc-i tion transverselygto the directionginwhichsaid' j V barise-moved toyengage said substanca i- -.5. A1clamp comprisinga ,clampingbanmo -,1-

able vertically into and out of engagement; with;

the substance. to be clamped, thereby, vand auirv clamping means'mounted on'saidbar andmovable ina --horizontal;direction;to engage said substance being clamped. c i 5; L 6. 'A;sub stanceclamp comprisinga support, an abutment on) said support, upwardly; ex: tending inclined member at one1iside rof said:

, abutment, a clamping bar thereon, "and; means sppported onsaidclampingbar for clamping, the

substance against said fabutment as saidwbar 7. Ina substanceclamp for'slicing'machines, the combination with. a support off=an inclined upwardly extending guide, on; said-support, ,an

slidable along-said inclined guide, andmeansfll on said member for engaging the side of asub-gg' stance on said support, said last mentioned means-being movable i'towards saidabutment as v said clamping membermoves along said guide. 30. 8. A slicing machine comprising a support for the substance to be sliced, an upright on said support, a clamping bar slidable along said upright into and out of engagement with the substance to be clamped, an arm pivoted to said bar; means operatively connected to said bar and arm 'for preventing accidental relative movement of said arm and bar in one direction while permitting free relative movement in the other-direction, and clamping means on said arm adapted f to move in a horizontal direction when said bar is moved along said upright. a

9. A substance clamp for slicing machines comprising an inclined guide, a clamping barslidable along said guide into and out of engage-- relatively to said arm in a substantially hori-' zontal direction and adapted to engage the sub-.

stance when placed on said support at spaced intervals along said substance;

11. In a clamp for slicing machines the bination with a substance support of a clamping member for clamping-a substance on said support to prevent movementr'thereof in a. vertical direction, an arm pivoted to said clamping member and adapted to move in a substantially horl-" zontal plane towards and away from the substance being clamped, means for lockingrsaid arm against movement relative to said member in one direction while permitting relative movement thereof in the opposite direction, andmeans 1 for preventing movement of said arm into aposition where the same is,intersected'bythecut ting plane of the knife; 6

moved downwardly, along said {incline'd. member;

abutment on said support, a clampingime nbeit surface and {rack bar to com- 12. A substance clamp for slicing machine" comprising; ,a pivoted; arm imeanst for 1 moving Saidarm1aboutits pivot :inon'e direction; :pawl and:

ratchet :mahs ,f or ,preventing-movement:i of said armxin said last mentioneddirection, means' for releasingsaid pawl and ratchetmeans=,.and means onasaid ratchet adapt'ed'to engage" said pawlfor;

limiting, the jextent :of h -movement; of saidfi arm"v iundentheginfluence o1 saidfirstmentioned means while vsaid releasing means 'iskin iIGaSlIIEa-DOS:

I'tion, 1 comprising} an abutmentflarranged Lto; en; gage said pawljfeven, when said'npawl is, raised;

clear of saidiratchehg 13 Agsubstance clamp, f or; I movement into Fen-- gagementyvithfthe side of a substance to prevent movement of; saidsubstance; in a horizontal 4 ,die n, comp i g an arm I p oted .tolswin'g in a horizontal direction, an ack" bar, adapted'toene' gage ;a 1pi nion ;operatively {connected to said arm,

nyieans Ior moving :said racial bar' to rotatezsaid arm in a horizontal direction,- .a releasable'means 'fo'zypreventing movementnlofa said-rack bar in aw 7 reverse, direction; comprising .;a, camsurface' l mounted on a relatively ri id; supportyl and a;

weensaidcam sur' 14.:A substanceiclamp ior movement into enwedge-member positioned bet face and.said-rackbar: 1

gagement with the side of sa-substance to prevent" movement jof said substance. in .a; horizontal idig rection, comprising an arm pivote'd tofswing in a horizontal direction, a rack bar adapted tofenmeans for moving said rack bar to rotatesaid reverse direction, comprisinga cam surface arm in a horizontal direction, a releasable means I I for preventing movement of said. rack bar in'a 1 11o mounted on a relatively rigid support; and af wedge member positioned between said cam surface and said rack' bar, saidlwedge memberbeing yieldingly held in engagement with said cam contact'therebetween.

increase the frictional 15. In a slicing machine, the combination with? a substance support, of a vertically movable clamp mounted at the forwardend' of saidfsupport ror movementqinto and out of operative engage ment with the upper side of the substance to clamped, an arm mounted on said'clamp for substantially horizontal movement thereon, a down I wardlyprojecting member onsaidarrn adapted to engage the side of the subs'tancebeing sliced,

andmeansfor lockingsaid arm in adjusted position with respect to thesubstance being sliced.

16: Ina slicing machine, the combination with:

a support, of a clamp mounted at the forward end of said support for engaging the upper side of the substance ito'be clamped, an arm pivoted 'on said clamp to swing rearwardly over said support into engagement with the side "of the substance to be clamped, and means for lock ing said arm in-s aid position. v I

1.7. In a slicingmachine, the combination with a substance support, of a clamp mounted atfthe "forward -endv of said-support and adaptedlto move into and out of engagement with the upperside of a substance tobeclamped, an arm pivoted: on said clamp to swing rearwardly over said support, a downwardly projecting member on said arm 'to engage the side of. the substance to be sliced, and means for automatically locking said arm in engagementwith ,the side of said -subreturn movement away from said stance against substance.

1-8. In a slicing machinejthe cornbin'ationwith I a substance support, of a clamp mounted at the forward end of said support for preventing up- 105 J gage a pinion .oper'atively' connected tosaid arm,n

from itszrearwardposition, andfla downwardly extending projection on said member for engaging the side :of the substance being sliced.

DQ195111 a slicing machine, the combination with asubstan'ce *sup'port,'of a clamp mounted at the forward :end of said support for clamping :the

' substance against vertical movemenman arm pivoted on said clamp adapted to swingrearwa'rdly over said-support and toward the substance to be sliced, "abar pivoted on said arm, down-1 wardlyL projecting members on said bar to engage the: side ofthe substance beingjsliced, and means -for1ocking'sa'id arm'in said adjusted position.

520;}In a clamp for slicing machines, the com bination with a support; of a pivoted clamping arm mounted'ior substantially horizontal m'ovement' and having spaced-projections thereon extending downwardly'toward the substance support-and in -afdirection substantially perpendicula'r'toithe horizontaljmovement' of said arm, said projections being relatively long' and freely mov able relatively to said arm in a substantially horizontal direction and beingarranged 'to engage the side ofthe substance on said support at operation;

wages? spaced intervals along said substance ina dime-,1

tion perpendicular :to the teeding movement "ofthe substance." 1 :z'

21.? In 'a' 'elalnp 'for slicing machines; the combination witha's'ubstancegsupport, o! a, (,laxnpi'ng member {or clamping: a portion "or asubstance: V

on said support to prevent shifting movement oi' that portion thereof in a'. vertical direction,-an arm pivotally-moun'ted on'said support'and mov able in a substantially horizontal direction "over said support, a. plurality of flngersyexten'ding downwardly from said arm and movably mounted:

v on saidarmto be freely-movable ina'h'oriz'ontal direction relative to said 'arm vvhen said'fingrs ,contakct with said substance, means 'for locki ng said arm a'gainstfmovement away -i'rom the" s'ub-- stance'-' to be Y clamped-while permittingrelative 1 movement thereof toward said substance to bringsaid fingers into "engagement with the substance being sliced,said fingers being: niovab1e-intoengagement with a portion ofthe substance ar-v ranged a substantial 'distance away 'f-r'omsaid clamping mem'ber in the-direction of feed oi'said" I substanceias the same is fedduring asliing operation,'said fingers preventing lateral shifting movement of the substance during a slicing- ,"JOHANN'ES coRN LIs m BERKEL." 

